Meat processor fined for by-product leakage

A North Yorkshire meat processing company has been fined after fluids from animal skins leaked out of a shipping container.

Zivana Skins (UK) of Thirsk, North Yorkshire admitted breaching hygiene regulations during a hearing before Ipswich magistrates. The company was fined £1,500 with costs of £1,200.

The court heard that, in March this year, Trading Standards Officers working for Suffolk County Council discovered a container at Felixstowe docks with fluid from sheep skins seeping out.

The container, which was not correctly labelled as containing animal by-products, was traced back to Zivana Skins, which is a specialist in the export of animal skins. The container was waiting to be shipped to Turkey.

Evidence was then given by TSOs that they issued issued a notice prohibiting the movement of the container until the leak was stopped. They also ordered that it be stored so that all further leakage could be contained ready for disposal.

Commenting on the case, a spokesman for Suffolk TSO said: “We take spillages like these very seriously. The liquid which could leak onto the highway could potentially spread livestock diseases, such as foot-and-mouth, over a very wide area.

“Disease outbreaks can have a major impact on the farming community and the UK as a whole. The level of fine imposed by the courts sends a clear message to those involved in the collection and transportation of animal by-products to ensure that they understand and adhere to the rules.”